Lewis Hamilton has dismissed any notions of an imminent retirement from Formula 1. Speaking at an FIA press conference ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion stated, “There are many people trying to retire me, but that is not even in my thoughts.”
Hamilton is currently under a multi-year contract with Ferrari, which commenced in 2025, although the exact duration has not been publicly disclosed. When questioned about his future for the upcoming year, the 41-year-old indicated that he is contracted with the Italian team at least through the 2027 season. “I am still under contract, so everything is 100 percent clear to me,” Hamilton confirmed. “I remain focused, motivated, and I still love what I do with all my heart. I will be here for quite some time, so you will have to get used to it.”
His transition to Ferrari did not begin auspiciously, with Hamilton describing his debut season in red after the 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix as a “nightmare.” He failed to reach the podium in a season for the first time in his career, and his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, outperformed him in 2025, finishing the year 86 points ahead. However, a significant overhaul of car design regulations for 2026 presented an opportunity for a fresh start, and Ferrari has been competitive with championship leader Mercedes in the early races of the current campaign.
Hamilton achieved his first podium finish for Ferrari in the second race of the season in China. Nevertheless, he has recently struggled to match Leclerc’s pace in the last two weekends, held in Japan and Miami.
Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Hamilton chose not to utilize Ferrari’s simulator, a sophisticated computer system used by teams for virtual track preparation. He felt that issues with car setup correlation after his simulator work for the Miami race in early May had hindered his performance in his actual car, and he did not wish to risk a recurrence of the problem in Montreal. Hamilton also emphasized his commitment to his long-term future with Ferrari in F1, stating, “I am already thinking about what comes next and planning for the next five years. I still plan to be here for some time.”
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